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President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has said that
the Turkish Cypriot side does not submit constructive positions at the
negotiating table, in the framework of the UN-led direct talks for a
solution of the Cyprus problem.

The President, who was addressing at the Presidential Palace a group of
students and professors from the Universities of Athens, Palermo and
Nancy, said that the Turkish Cypriot side does not accept to hold a
census in the northern Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus under
international observation, that would indicate the real number of
illegal Turkish settlers, brought to the occupied part of Cyprus by
Ankara in order to change the demographic structure of the island.

Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu is asking us to accept the
so-called citizenship he has granted. This is unacceptable and we
cannot be talking about bridging positions because this must be based
on logic, on legality, he said.

Noting that the real number of illegal settlers is unknown, he said
that the Greek Cypriot side asks for a census to take place in Cyprus
under international observation but the Turkish side does not accept
this.

They do not want to do that. They accept a census to take place but not
under international observation. This is one of the issues we are
discussing now. We believe that when a census takes place under
international observation we will know the real number of settlers
living in the occupied areas, he noted.

Referring to the chapter on properties, he said that the Greek Cypriot
sides position is that the legal owner of the property must have the
first say on the future of his/her property, while the Turkish Cypriot
side does not agree with this position.

He said that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat accepted
that the solution of the Cyprus problem must be based on one state,
adding that we were close to an overall agreement on the chapter of
governance and power sharing.

President Christofias said that the international community does not
seem to understand that the Greek Cypriot side has made an historic
compromise in order to achieve the withdrawal of Turkish troops from
Cyprus, noting that this historic compromise was the acceptance of the
transformation of the unified Cypriot state to a bizonal, bicommunal
federation.

There is no other alternative, he said, than to continue efforts on the
basis of the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, the high level
agreements of 1977 and 1979, for a peaceful reunification of our island
in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with political
equality as outlined in the relevant UN resolutions, for one state with
one and single sovereignty, citizenship and international personality,
a state functional and viable.

Referring to the events in 1974, he said that Turkey was in no way
justified in invading Cyprus, spreading death and destruction, and
continuing until today to occupy part of the island.

He also said that the UN and the EU have not shown the necessary will
to implement in Cyprus the principles of international law for the
restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
Republic of Cyprus after Turkeys military invasion in 1974.

Some states, he continued, have now begun operations in Libya, noting
that in Cyprus there has been a Turkish invasion and there is a
continuous occupation of 37% of Cyprus territory but, despite numerous
UN resolutions, the international community never thought of activating
chapter 7 of the UN Charter (Action with respect to threats to the
peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression) since they are
allies with Turkey, the country which imposes injustice in Cyprus.

The government has expressed major concerns about Turkeys nuclear plans
and has called on its European partners to show a decisive stance
towards Ankara. Cyprus positions on Turkeys plans to construct a
nuclear plant in Akkuyu in the Turkish southern province of Mersin were
presented at the EU Council of Ministers of Energy in Brussels by
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides,
following the disaster in Japan on March 11.

Only a few days after the disaster in Japan, Turkish Prime Minister
spoke with utter arrogance about his governments plan to build a
nuclear plant in Akkuyu, completely disregarding the international
reaction and concerns on nuclear accidents, Paschalides said, adding
that it is extremely important for the EU to take into consideration
Cyprus positions. The Minister said that it is necessary for the EU to
commence a dialogue with all member states as well as neighboring
countries which have or plan to construct nuclear plants in their
territory, in order to secure the levels of safety in case of a nuclear
accident.

He also warned about the risks involved in developing nuclear programs
close to seismologically active areas.

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said that the Republic of
Cyprus has conveyed its wish not to be involved in the military
operations in Libya for many and various reasons. We have been informed
by the British that the British Bases have been used so far to provide
auxiliary services. This is the information we have so far, he said.
From there on, he added, as President Demetris Christofias has said we
have conveyed the wish of the Republic of Cyprus to stay outside any
military operations for many and various reasons.

Stephanou recalled that Cyprus, because of its political and other
problems due to the Turkish invasion and to the ties the Republic of
Cyprus maintains with other countries of the region, does not wish to
be involved in any way in the current military operations. Responding
to a question, the spokesman said that Britain has not said that it
will use its bases in Cyprus to launch military operations against
Libya.

The Spokesman said that as President Christofias had stated the status
of the British military bases in Cyprus is prescribed in the 1960
Treaty of Establishment. Britain, a former colonial power, has retained
two military bases in Cyprus when it granted the country its
independence in 1960.

The latest developments in Libya and the general situation in the Arab
countries were discussed during the meetings the Foreign Affairs and
General Affairs Councils held here on Monday. In his intervention,
Cyprus Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou underlined that the primary
goal of the international community must be the immediate ceasefire and
the protection of civilians in Libya.

He also said that the EU must coordinate its actions with the Arab
League and stressed the need to provide humanitarian aid to Libya and
address problems to camps where Libyan refugees live in Tunisia and
Egypt. The international community, he added, must aim at resolving the
crisis in Libya through peaceful processes and dialogue. Furthermore he
stressed that the process of democratization must remain in the hands
of the Libyan people, without foreign intervention.

The General Affairs Council discussed the preparation of the
forthcoming European Council and nuclear security, in the aftermath of
events in Japan. Cyprus stressed the need for the EU to insist on high
levels of nuclear security, both domestically and internationally,
especially in neighbouring countries. It was stressed that Akuju, where
Turkey plans to construct a nuclear plant, is an area vulnerable to
earthquakes and very close to Cyprus.